By Victoria Rollison
You’ve written a brilliant application and gotten yourself an interview. Now’s the moment to really wow them. But it won’t happen unless you do some homework first. Rescu. shows you how…
There are lots of websites that give tips on interviews. Here’s a summary of what they suggest you do before you walk into this important meeting.
Do your research
Start by researching the company or organisation you are hoping to join. Look at their website, even read their annual report. Your application was mostly about you, but in your interview, you need to show that you understand their business and can relate your knowledge and skills to their needs. Even if the job is similar to what you were doing before, they will appreciate the interest you take in their business.
Practise
Practise some interview questions with a friend. Every interview is about how well you would do their job, so a lot of interview questions come down to the same thing: what have you got to offer? “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” is a common one. Strengths are easy – they are your work-related skills and knowledge and your interpersonal skills. Weaknesses are a bit more tricky. You can’t say you don’t have any (even if you don’t!). So pick a weakness that can also be a strength. For example, “I still need to improve my skills in delegating”. This is code for “I understand the need to delegate and am learning to do it, but I still have a tendency to take on too much”. Great answer!
“What would you bring to this position”, and the old favourite “Tell us about yourself”, are essentially the same question, though you can leave out the weaknesses in answering these. So-called behaviour-based questions that ask you to tell them about a time when you showed a particular skill, such as initiative or negotiating skills, are also versions of the same question. Practise so that you can offer a concise account of your skills and knowledge whichever way they ask the question.
Be careful what you ask
They will probably ask if you have any questions, so it is worth practising an answer. “What sort of executive bonuses do you offer?” or “When will your share price recover?” are probably not useful. In fact, unless you really do want to know something specific, a smile and “I already know all that I need to about this organisation, and I’d really like to work here” is quite sufficient.
Dress the part
Plan your wardrobe. And yes, be conservative. A business suit, closed-in shoes, no big hair, no bright lipstick or nail polish and no flashy jewellery. Some deft personal touches to show how classy you are. Talk it over with a friend, remembering that you are dressing for the next level up from where you are.
Know your route
Finally, work out where you have to go, and how long it will take you to get there. Being late for an interview is the stuff of nightmares.
Good luck, but if you are well prepared, you won’t really need it!
Recommended links
More info on writing job applications: https://content.mycareer.com.au/advice-research.aspx
Extra tips for answering interview questions: https://content.mycareer.com.au/advice-research/interview/interview-common-questions.aspx